Kansas Guardianship Program

The Kansas Guardianship program is a volunteer-based model that provides guardianship or conservatorship services 
for vulnerable adults.

 

Get Involved

Welcome to Kansas Guardianship Program

The KGP celebrated 40 years of volunteer service in 2019. 

This unique model involves a collaborative working relationship with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS).

The KGP serves people who are identified by Adult Protective Services and State hospital social workers. State hospital social workers and Adult Protective Services workers may make formal requests to the KGP for an approved volunteer to be nominated to the court for appointment as guardian or conservator.

In 2020, in observing National Volunteer Month, we celebrated our organization’s most valuable asset. More than 775 volunteers throughout the State of Kansas serving 1,285 individuals. Through their volunteerism, Kansans play an integral role in the inclusion of marginalized and vulnerable fellow community members.

The KGP would not be possible without the dedication of these citizen volunteers. KGP volunteers donate many hours advocating for the people they serve. These volunteers exemplify the dignity and respect all persons are accorded while reflecting a commitment to improving the quality of life for all in their communities.

Why is the KGP needed?

Every year many adult Kansans experience diminished capacity and become unable to make informed decisions regarding their lives and finances.

For those who do not have willing and able family members to assist them and do not have the resources with which to pay for the services of a guardian or conservator,  the court can appoint fellow citizens as a guardian or conservator.

The Kansas Guardianship Program recruits, screens, and trains interested persons to be court appointed guardians and conservators.

Find a KGP Recruiter

Cheyenne Cheyenne Rawlins Rawlins Decatur Decatur Norton Norton Phillips Phillips Smith Smith Sherman Sherman Thomas Thomas Sheridan Sheridan Graham Graham Rooks Rooks Osborne Osborne Wallace Wallace Logan Logan Gove Gove Trego Trego Ellis Ellis Russell Russell Rush Rush Barton Barton Pawnee Pawnee Jewell Jewell Republic Republic Washington Washington Marshall Marshall Nemaha Nemaha Mitchell Mitchell Cloud Cloud Clay Clay Riley Riley Lincoln Lincoln Ottawa Ottawa Dickinson Dickinson Geary Geary Wabaunsee Wabaunsee Ellsworth Ellsworth Saline Saline Rice Rice McPherson McPherson Marion Marion Morris Morris Chase Chase Lyon Lyon Brown Brown Doniphan Doniphan Jackson Jackson Atchison Atchison Jefferson Jefferson Leavenworth Leavenworth Wyandotte Wyandotte Douglas Douglas Johnson Johnson Osage Osage Franklin Franklin Coffey Coffey Cowley Cowley Sumner Sumner Harper Harper Kingman Kingman Reno Reno Stafford Stafford Pratt Pratt Barber Barber Edwards Edwards Kiowa Kiowa Comanche Comanche Ness Ness Hodgeman Hodgeman Ford Ford Clark Clark Lane Lane Finney Finney Gray Gray Meade Meade Scott Scott Haskell Haskell Seward Seward Wichita Wichita Kearny Kearny Grant Grant Stevens Stevens Greeley Greeley Hamilton Hamilton Stanton Stanton Morton Morton Greenwood Greenwood Butler Butler Harvey Harvey Sedgwick Sedgwick Elk Elk Chautauqua Chautauqua Miami Miami Anderson Anderson Linn Linn Woodson Woodson Allen Allen Bourbon Bourbon Crawford Crawford Neosho Neosho Wilson Wilson Cherokee Cherokee Labette Labette Montgomery Montgomery Pottawatomie Pottawatomie Shawnee Shawnee
Find a KGP Recruiter

Amy Meysenburg

Email: ameysenburg@ksgprog.org

Phone: (785) 587.8555

Find a KGP Recruiter

Tina Horocofsky, Business Manager

Business Manager

Email: chorocofsky@ksgprog.org

Phone: (785) 587.8555

Find a KGP Recruiter

Dennise Taber

Northwestern Kansas Recruiter

Email: dtaber@ksgprog.org

Phone: (785) 587.8555

Find a KGP Recruiter

Sandra Jones

Email: sjones@ksgprog.org

Phone: (785) 587.8555

Find a KGP Recruiter

Mikel Lovin

Email: mlovin@ksgprog.org

Phone: (913) 780.3300

Find a KGP Recruiter

Heather Hodges Francis

Email: hfrancis@ksgprog.org

Phone: (913) 780.3300

Find a KGP Recruiter

Nancy Mayberry

Email: nmayberry@ksgprog.org

Phone: (316) 269.2525

Find a KGP Recruiter

Inga Rogers

Email: irogers@ksgprog.org

Phone: (316) 269.2525

Find a KGP Recruiter

Jean Krahn, Executive Director

Executive Director

Email: jkrahn@ksgprog.org

Phone: (785) 587.8555

What is a Guardian or Conservator?

A guardian is empowered by the court to make decisions on behalf of another individual.  Those decisions are to be reasoned and principled.

There is an inherent duty in the decision-making responsibility to represent the preferences, opinions and beliefs  of the person as best determined from the individual or those persons most directly involved in the life of the person.

Smiling Adult in the program

Responsibilities of a Guardian or Conservator

 Guardianship for adults with disabilities is not something to be taken lightly. The responsibilities of a guardian or conservator are to:

  • Advocate for a higher quality of life for another, while monitoring and protecting individual rights.
  • Advocate for and exercise authority as necessitated by the person’s limitations.
  • Access services and supports including physical, psychological, and emotional care and treatment.
  • Monitor quality of supports and services.
  • Provide necessary paperwork such as court reports and accountings, applications for supports, services and benefits, etc.
  • Provide necessary consents.
  • Visit the person regularly.
  • Manage the finances and estate on behalf of person (if conservator).

Become a Guardian 

It is a significant matter to ask someone to accept the legal responsibility for the well-being of another person—someone who is often previously not known to the volunteer and not a family member. KGP seeks this considerable personal commitment from volunteers who agree to serve as guardians or conservators.

The process of a guardian or conservator becoming an effective advocate takes time and commitment.

Guardian smiling with Adult in the program
Guardian smiling with Adult in the program
Smiling Adult in the program
Guardian smiling with Adult in the program
Smiling Adult in the program
Smiling Adult in the program

Kansas Guardianship Program Annual Report

The annual report provides an overview of the program, how it functions and statistical information on persons served through the program.

KGP FY 2020 Annual Report

Guide to Kansas Laws on Guardianship and Conservatorship

The guide provides an overview of the guardianship and conservatorship statute in Kansas

Guide to KS Law